How to make Windows Vista connect automatically to a Wireless ad-hoc network

I have a ToughBook laptop running Windows Vista Business. I want to connect this laptop to my wireless Zebra printer. This is done by creating an ad-hoc wireless connection between the two devices. The issue is in Vista the ad-hoc network connects manually. This is a pain because every time the user goes out of range of the printer or the printer is powered off they have to go in and manually connect to the printer again. Before in windows XP I had the option to Connect Automatically Now this option only appears if I am connecting to an access point. Is there a way to connect automatically to an ad-hoc network in Vista?

this guide helps you to share your dsl/cable internet connection without a need of a wireless router using only a windows vista laptop that has a wifi adhoc capabilities

1st: go to control panel and hit on networking. click on manage connections and setup a new wifi adhoc network and for example we'll name it "wireless"
2nd: after your name the network profile its for you to have it secure or not.
3rd:save your network
4th: go to task scheduler and create a task name it as 'automatic adhoc'
5th: the program you need to run is called netsh.exe(you can find this at c:/windows/system32/)and add this following
command "wlan connect name=profilename" without the quotes ok. change the profilename into wireless
6th: do not start in windows startup but choose to start it in windows logon
7th: now you're good to go. everytime you turn on your laptop you can share it in you neighborhood

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RMAHelpDeskAuthor Commented: 2008-06-25

Doesn't completely solve my issue but can be used as a work around. My laptop isn't being rebooted very often. My wireless connections drops when my laptop goes to sleep or the wireless printer goes to sleep due to inactivity. As a work around I could put an icon on the desktop to "restart" the connection. This solution just isn't as simple and clean as the "Connect Automatically" option we had in XP.

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